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Postdoctoral Research Associate

Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, NC

current - 2021

PhD, Geography

University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, NC

2021 - 2016

• Title : Are Deep Tubewells Safe and Equitable? A Geographic examination of Impacts of Deep Tubewell Interventions on Provision of Safe Drinking-water and Diarrheal Diseases in Rural Bangladesh

M.S., Geography

University of Illinois

Urbana Champaign, IL

2013 - 2011

• Concentration in Health and Medical Geography

B.A. (hons), Geography (minor C.S.)

University of Illinois

Urbana Champaign, IL

2011 - 2008

• Concentration in Geographic Information Science
• Awarded Highest Distinction

Carolina Population Center

University of North Carolina

N/A

2021 - 2016

• Conducted population health research on multiple NSF and NIH Projects as a pre-doctoral trainee
• Lead and co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications evaluating spatial determinants of diarrheal diseases in Bangladesh and malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa under supervision of Dr. Mike Emch.
• Conducted analysis and wrote a submitted manuscript with Dr. Paul Delamater on spatial determinants of vaccine hesitancy in the United States

Indian School of Business

Hyderabad, India

N/A

2016 - 2014

• I served as the chief data scientist at a research team led by Dr. Ashwini Chhatre to acquire, process, integrate, visualize and disseminate data-driven products for evidence based resilient rainfed agriculture in India

Center for One Health

University of Illinois

N/A

2013 - 2012

• Conducted Master’s research involving a spatial risk assessment of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease among cattle and white-tailed deer in Illinois under supervision of late Dr. Marilyn O’Hara Ruiz

CyberGIS and Infrastructure Laboratory

University of Illinois

N/A

2011 - 2010

• Co-led the development of an Ecological Compliance Assessment WebGIS tool named EcoCAT at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources under supervision of Dr. Shaowen Wang

Race, Place, and HIV: The Legacies of Apartheid and Racist Policy in South Africa

Social Science and Medicine

N/A

2022

• GJ Bell, J Ncyayiyana, A Sholomon, V Goel, K Zuma, M Emch

Implementation Approaches for Introducing and Overcoming Barriers to Hepatitis B Birth-Dose Vaccine in Africa

Global Health: Science and Practice

N/A

2022

• Boisson A, V Goel, Yotebiang M, Parr JB, B Fried, Thompson P

Dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine chemoprevention and malaria incidence after severe flooding: evaluation of a pragmatic intervention in rural Uganda

Clinical Infectious Diseases

N/A

2021

• RM Boyce, BD Hollingsworth, E Baguma, E Xu, V Goel, A Brown-Marusiak, R Muhindo, R Reyes, M Ntaro, MJ Siedner, SG Staedke, JJ Juliano, EM Mulongo

Malaria prevalence and long-lasting insecticidal net use in rural western Uganda: results of a cross-sectional survey conducted in an area of highly variable malaria transmission intensity

Malaria Journal

N/A

2021

• CM Cote, V Goel, R Muhindo, E Baguma, M Ntaro, BE Shook-Sa, R Reyes, SG Staedke, EM Mulongo, RM Boyce

Individual, household and neighborhood risk factors for malaria in the Democratic Republic of the Congo support new approaches to programmatic intervention

Health and Place

N/A

2021

• M Carrel, S Kim, MK Mwandagalirwa, N Mvuama, JA Bala, M Nkalani, G Kihuma, J Atibu, O Diallo, Varun Goel, KL Thwai, JJ Juliano, M Emch, A Tshefu, JB Parr

SARS-CoV-2 testing in North Carolina: Racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities

Health and Place

N/A

2021

• K Brandt^*, V Goel^*, C Keeler^*, GJ Bell, A Aiello, G Corbie-Smith, E Wilson, A Fleischauer, M Emch, RM Boyce
• * Joint first author

Effectiveness of a national mass distribution campaign of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets and indoor residual spraying on clinical malaria in Malawi, 2018-2020

BMJ Global Health

N/A

2021

• H Topazian, A Gumbo, K Brandt, M Kayange, JS Smith, JK Edwards, V Goel, T Mvalo, M Emch, A Pettifor, JJ Juliano, I Hoffman

What is the burden of malaria in the DRC

Journal of Infectious Diseases

N/A

2021

• M Deutsch-Feldman, JB Parr, C Keeler, NF Brazeau, V Goel, M Emch, JK Edwards, M Kashamuka, AK Tshefu, SR Meshnick

Considering Alternate Pathways of Drinking-Water Contamination: Evidence of Risk Substitution in Rural Bangladesh

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

N/A

2020

• V Goel, GJ Bell, S Sridhar, Md Islam, Md Yunus, Md Ali, Md Khan, Md Alam, ASG Faruque, Md Kabir, S Babu, K Brandt, V Shelus, MD Sobsey, M Emch

Extending multilevel spatial models to include spatially varying coefficients

Health and Place

N/A

2019

• M Janko, V Goel, M Emch

False-negative malaria rapid diagnostic test results and their impact on community-based malaria surveys in sub-Saharan Africa

BMJ Global Health

N/A

2019

• OJ Watson, KM Sumner, M Janko, V Goel, P Winskill, HC Slater, A Ghani, SR Meshnick, JB Parr

Impacts of household sources on air pollution at village and regional scales in India

Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics

N/A

2019

• B Rooney, R Zhao, Y Wang, KH Bates, A Pillarisetti, S Sharma, S Kundu, TC Bond, NL Lam, B Ozaltun, L Xu, V Goel, LT Fleming, R Weltman, S Meinardi, DR Blake, SA Nizkorodov, RD Edwards, A Yadav, NK Arora, KR Smith, JH Seinfeld

Deep tubewell microbial water quality and access in arsenic mitigation programs in rural Bangladesh

Science of the Total Environment

N/A

2018

• V Goel, MS Islam, M Yunus, MT Ali, AF Khan, N Alam, ASG Faruque, G Bell, M Sobsey, M Emch

Individual and household characteristics of persons with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in sites with varying endemicities in Kinshasa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Malaria Journal

N/A

2017

• MK Mwandagalirwa, L Levitz, KL Thwai, JB Parr, Varun Goel, M Janko, A Tshefu, M Emch, SR Meshnick, M Carrel

Malaria Transmission Intensity Likely Modifies RTS,S/AS01 Efficacy Due to a Rebound Effect in Ghana, Malawi, and Gabon

Lancet Infectious Diseases (submitted)

N/A

2022

• GJ Bell, V Goel, B Adu, BA Mensah, S Gyaase, F Mougeni, K Wiru, C Sinai, P Essone, D Dosoo, M Osei, P Minsoko, K Niare, JJ Juliano, M Hudgens, P Kamthunzi, ST Agnandji, KP Asante, A Ghansah, JA Bailey, M Emch

Associations between Deep Tubewell Use and Household Microbial Contamination: A Prospective Cohort Study among Households in Rural Bangladesh

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health (submitted)

N/A

2022

• V Goel, B Chan, M Ziade, MS Islam, Md Yunus, MT Ali, AF Khan, N Alam, ASG Faruque, SU Babu, MM Kabir, M Sobsey, M Serre , M Emch

Provisional entrance, exemptions, and kindergarteners up-to-date on vaccination after a regulatory change in Pennsylvania

Public Health Reports (under review)

N/A

2022

• PL Delamater, V Goel, CN Strack, YT Yang

Spatial Epidemiology: Challenges and methods in COVID-19 research

In: Andrews G.J., Crooks V.A., Pearce J.R., Messina J.P. (eds) COVID-19 and Similar Futures. Global Perspectives on Health Geography. Springer

N/A

2021

• V Goel, M Emch

Investigating COVID-19 Testing in North Carolina: Racial, Ethnic, and Geographic Disparities

Association of American Geographers, April 7-11 (non presenting author)

Virtual

2021

Spillovers and Risk Substitution in Public Health Interventions: A case study of Deep Tubewell Interventions and Diarrheal Disease in Rural Bangladesh

Association of American Geographers, April 7-11

Virtual

2021

Are Deep Tubewells Safe Drinking Water Sources? Evidence of Risk Substitution from Rural Bangladesh

UNC Water and Health Conference, Oct 26-30

Chapel Hill, USA

2020

Measuring spillover effects from a health intervention in Rural Bangladesh

International Medical Geography Symposium, July 1-6

Queenstown, NZ

2019

Climatic Influences on Women’s Health and Mobility in Sub-Saharan Africa

Population Association of America, April 11-13 (non-presenting author)

Austin, USA

2019

Risk Substitution through Surface Water Use Among Deep Tubewell users in Rural Bangladesh

Association of American Geographers, April 4-7

Washington D.C, USA

2019

Does Women’s Empowerment Reduce the Negative Effect of Climate Change on Child Health? Empirical Evidence from Households in India

Population Association of America, April 26-28

Denver, USA

2018

Impact of Population Modelling Choices on Epidemiological Estimates: Implications for Integrated Disease Control

American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Oct 28-30 , (non-presenting author)

New Orleans, USA

2018

Finding Safe Drinking Water in Rural Bangladesh - Are Deep Tubewells the Answer?

Association of American Geographers, April 10-14

New Orleans, USA

2017

An integrated One Health approach to evaluating the spatio-temporal risk of hemorrhagic disease in cattle in Illinois

URISA GIS and Public Health Conference, Jun 10-12

Miami, USA

2013

A spatial risk assessment of hemorrhagic disease in cattle in Illinois from 2005 to 2012,

Association of American Geographers, April 22-25

Los Angeles, USA

2013

IMAP: An online GIS tool for disability-friendly pedestrian navigation

Illinois GIS Association Spring Conference, April 1

Los Angeles, USA

2011

Spatial and demographic patterns in SARS-CoV-2 testing and test positivity in North Carolina

Geography Colloqium (Co-presented), Nov 10

Dartmouth College

2020

SARS-CoV-2 Testing in North Carolina: Racial, ethnic, and geographic disparities

Working Group Seminar (Co-presented), Nov 19

NC Covid Surveillance Network

2020

Building Resilience in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Systems in Developing Countries

STAR-TIDES Invited Panel Speaker, Oct 20

George Mason University

2020

Spatial Components of COVID-19 viral and seroprevalence testing in North Carolina

School of Forest and Environment Resources Seminar, Oct 19

NC State University

2020

Examining the Role of Neighborhood Definitions on Spatio-temporal Distribution of Vaccine Refusal in California

GIS Day Invited talk, Nov 16

Duke University

2018

Evaluating Deep Tubewell interventions in rural Bangladesh: Implications for both drinking and non-drinking water usage

Research Seminar, Sep 25

icddr,b Bangladesh

2018

Mapping Infectious Diseases using R

Workshop at the Evolutionary Medicine Summer Institute, June 7

Duke University

2018

Globalization and Health

Guest Lecture, GEOG 110: Geographies of Globalization, Oct 13

UNC Chapel Hill

2017

Morbidity and Health

Guest Lecture: Soc 122: Population and Development, March 28

UNC Chapel Hill

2017

Applications of GIS in Natural Resource Management

Guest Lecture: Natural Resource Governance in Developing Countries, Oct 29

University of Illinois

2013

Open-source GIS tools in criminology and health

Guest Lecture: Geospatial Tech and Society

University of Illinois

2012

Course Instructor

GEOG 215: Introduction to Spatial Data Science

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

2020 spring

• Rated 4.85 out of 5 (Full course evaluations available upon request)

Teaching Assistant

GEOG 105: Digital Earth

University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

2013 spring

• Mentioned in List of Instructors rated as Excellent by their students

Teaching Assistant

GEOG 101: Geography of Developing Countries

University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

2011 fall

• Mentioned in List of Instructors rated as Excellent by their students

Course Instructor

Introduction to GIS and Spatial Analysis

Lilongwe, Malawi

2020 March

• Co-taught a short course on Introduction to GIS and Spatial Analsyis to doctors and public health researchers as part of the Malawi HIV Implementation and Research Training Program

Teaching Assistant

Data Matters Workshop Series

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

2020 december

• TA for 3 two-day classes on Introductory, Intermediate and Advanced R

UNC Graduate School Dissertation Completion Fellowship ($18,000)

N/A

N/A

2020

Melinda Meade Research Award, UNC Geography ($3000)

N/A

N/A

2020

Melinda Meade Graduate Student Summer Award, UNC Geography ($2000)

N/A

N/A

2019

AAG Health and Medical Geography Specialty Group Travel Award ($500)

N/A

N/A

2019

Ona Impact Grant for using innovative digital technology for field data collection ($1200)

N/A

N/A

2018

Geography Summer Award, UNC Geography ($3000)

N/A

N/A

2018

Summer Institute in Statistics and Infectious Disease Modeling scholarship, UW ($3300)

N/A

N/A

2018

UNC Doctoral Recruitment Merit Assistantship ($20,000)

N/A

N/A

2016

Schlesinger Travel Award, UIUC School of Earth, Society and Environment ($600)

N/A

N/A

2013

Jerome D Fellman Award, for outstanding honors thesis and highest distinction

N/A

N/A

2011

Outstanding Senior in Geography Award, Illinois Geographical Society

N/A

N/A

2011

ESRI Development Center (EDC) Scholarship, ESRI (co-shared) ($500)

N/A

N/A

2011

1867 Society Fund Award, UIUC (shared) ($1100)

N/A

N/A

2011

Howard Roepke Undergraduate Research Scholarship, UIUC Geography ($3000)

N/A

N/A

2011

Analytical

GIS, remote sensing, spatial statistics, geostatistical modeling

N/A

N/A

Programming

R (advanced), Python, Matlab, Bash

N/A

N/A

Software/Tools

R, ArcGIS, QGIS, Stata, GIT, AWS, PostGIS

N/A

N/A

Treasurer

Geography Association of Graduate Students

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

2020 - 2017

Graduate Student Representative, Geography

Graduate Professional Student Federation

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

2017 - 2016

Chair

Society of Earth Systems and Environment Research Review

University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

2013

Health & Place

N/A

N/A

N/A

Malaria Journal

N/A

N/A

N/A

Bulletin of the World Health Organization

N/A

N/A

N/A

Science of the Total Environment

N/A

N/A

N/A

American Journal of Public Health

N/A

N/A

N/A

Association of American Geographers

N/A

N/A

N/A

Population Association of America

N/A

N/A

N/A

American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

N/A

N/A

N/A

English

Fluent

N/A

N/A

Hindi

Native Speaker

N/A

N/A

Mandarin

Conversational

N/A

N/A